Francisco Rodriguez and Brewers Renegotiate Deal
By Editorial Staff
Francisco Rodriguez and the Brewers renegotiated the reliever’s contract to avoid his looming vesting option.
The option was a huge issue for all parties involved.
As the deadline approached it was well known that Rodriguez’s deal included an option that would have vested if the closer finished 55 games this year. If that would happen, Rodriguez would earn a mind blowing $17.5 million in 2012.
With their financial issues, the Mets couldn’t let that happen. To avoid controversy later this season, New York shipped Rodriguez to Milwaukee for two players to be named later.
Rodriguez then carried his talent as well as his troubling vesting option to the Brewers. While the club already had a successful closer in John Axford, they still risked the chance that through injury or lack of production Rodriguez could land the finisher’s role.
To avoid this problem, the Brewers were able to come to an agreement with K-Rod. Milwaukee increased the reliever’s buyout from $3.5 to $4 million in return for Rodriguez’s agreement to drop his huge option.
"“What this does is it converts the contract from the sole vesting option to now a mutual option, meaning both parties have to agree to extend the contract. Whether he finishes 20 games, 30 games, 40 games is no longer a factor in terms of what happens with the option next year,” Brewers’ assistant general manager Gord Ash said."
Rodriguez is relieved to have the issue cleared, as he knew the contract stipulation caused people to judge him not only off of his ability and performance. K-Rod admitted the whole ordeal was definitely a distraction this season.
"“I was saying at the beginning of the year that it’s not about the money – it’s about being comfortable and being able to embrace my role the way I wanted to. Now it’s going to be a lot easier for the manager and the front office not to think about the games finished and let me go out there and compete even more,” Rodriguez said."
If it really wasn’t about the money as K-Rod says, then the deal is a win-win. Rodriguez can continue to be used as a closer without ramifications and the Brewers don’t have to consider the option when deciding who to use to finish games.
Milwaukee still hasn’t stated how they are going to utilize Axford and Rodriguez, except to say that who pitches when will be determined by the game and manager Ron Roenicke. It will be interesting to see how the situation plays out as the season continues, but the Brewers certainly overcame a big hurdle this weekend.
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